UCI vs USC

[caligal]

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I was wondering if you guys could give me some reasons for why you would pick one school over the other. If tuition wasn't a factor, are there people who would choose UCI over USC? Thanks!

 

[BlackPuma]

well u just tookout the biggest factor!!! which is tuition

other than that....USC has the better ranking, better reputation as well as better CLINICAL experience...which is really really good at that school...

on the other hand, I heard in irvine all we see is white pple...not that there is anything wrong with old white pple 😀

 

[Vin Scully]

Keep in mind the extremely different environment of the 2 schools. SC is in Urban Los Angeles, and even if you don't live by the school, you will still be living in LA. This may or may not be a positive. UCI-suburban orange county...my personal idea of hell (I grew up there), but for some it is the environment they are looking for.

 

[slj]

although don't forget that uci clinical training takes place all over the county, not just in irvine, so there is lots of diversity in the patient population you'll be seeing at uci, even if irvine itself is a mini truman show...

i'm trying to think what's more limiting down the line: a bunch of debt, or an education from a slightly (debatably) less well-reputed school? i guess it depends on what you want to do with your m.d.

i have also been genuinely impressed by the down-to-earthness/happiness of uci students, but i guess students at usc are happy, too, no?

what did you think of the uci second look wknd, caligal?

 

[matthew0126]

I love both schools, so I dunno.

but just wanted to refute what watcha said. Man, I've worked at UCI med and old white farts (not that I care either way)??? hah. dude, it's bok choi this and si, senora that in the ER. mexicans and vietnamese and chinese and salvadorans and etc etc etc all up in that joint. UCI med center is the major site for all of O.C., so they get all spectrums of OC's diverse patient base, from the latinos in santa ana to the asian immigrants in garden grove to the whites in coto de caza.

 

[BlackPuma]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by matthew0126:
•I love both schools, so I dunno.

but just wanted to refute what watcha said. Man, I've worked at UCI med and old white farts (not that I care either way)??? hah. dude, it's bok choi this and si, senora that in the ER. mexicans and vietnamese and chinese and salvadorans and etc etc etc all up in that joint. UCI med center is the major site for all of O.C., so they get all spectrums of OC's diverse patient base, from the latinos in santa ana to the asian immigrants in garden grove to the whites in coto de caza.•••••well I was just basically paraphrasing what the tour guide told me...I said what is a bad thing about ur school and she said...the patient population isn't at all diverse....so I thought I was getting it from the horse's mouth...guess not 😀

 

[hawkeyes]

I vote for UCI. Even though you took out tuition as a factor, I think that it is perhaps more important of a factor than we pre-meds can really fathom. It is a factor for *every* doctor I know. All the doctors I have talked to recommended to me a med education for the least cost, unless perhaps you are for sure going into academia. Even then, being at UCI will not hurt you, esp when the option is USC and not Harvard. A friend of mine is recently pregnant and an OB/Gyn. She had to work with a PICC line in her becuase she had hyperemisis so badly and needed to work.. her debt was too great. The difference is enormous, and I think can very much impose unwanted limitations for your future choice in residency (needing to pursue a higher paying one in order to make the education "worth it," or even just needing to work and never being able to take a break. Some people are fortunate that their parents will pay for it all, but IMHO, even if 100K were to fall in my lap from the SKY, I couldn't in good conscience spend it as an extra on an education that may not be all that much "better." And even if it was demonstrably better, I think that it is more the student that determines the quality of physician s/he becomes... less the quality of the school. This is just humble opinion. I spent the last month debating this (almost) exact question and am happily resolved to going to my state school.

 

[Jalby]

If tuition wasn't a factor, I would definately choose USC.
The clinical training at USC beats the S**t out of almost any school. At county you get to see the things you only get to read about at other schools.
As far as living environment is concerned, I think USC wins hands down. The majority of the students at USC live in a place called Monneray Hills, which is just south of South Pasadena. It is about 3 miles away from USC, and it is in a way, isolated. There are only three roads into monnerray hills, and basically on the hill are a bunch of very nice apartments and suburban like houses. Also you are 10-15 minutes from tons of entertainment in Hollywood and downtown LA, and 5 minutes from Pasadena, where there is lots of residential stuff. UCI is in a very nice place, but also extremely boring. There is not much to do in orange county. The clubs arn't that good (except rubber) the bars arn't that great, no real sporting teams. There is the beach, but LA has that too. So for me, LA would beat Irvine for living.
One thing that I think UCI has USC beat in is the basic science training. UCI aparently scores very high on the boards. I'm not totally sure why that is. It could be because for the first two years they are mostly in the classroom compared to USC, where you in the hospital once a week your first two years. Could be that UCI selects studnets with higher MCAT's and GPA's than USC (my personal opinion).

One great thing about both schools, it's extremely easy to get a residency in California. You can't really go wrong with both.

So if I were you, my deciding factor would be how well you think you can do on the boards. If you did well on the MCAT, you probably won't need to much help on the boards, so I would go to SC because the clinical is much better. If you feel you would be in the middle of the pack on the boards, then you should go to UCI because they will prolly teach you better and youd score better.

 

[none]

I'm guessing the OP has a scholarship that evens the two tuitions...that's the only thing I can think of that would remove the financial stuff, which would be the largest factor in my decision by far. I personally found the UCI students extraordinarily happy. I went on 11 interviews and they were definitely the happiest. USC's weren't the least happy (that'd be Finch), but they weren't just bubbly like the UCI students. I also really wanted an undergrad campus that was actually nearby for cheap cultural events that a big city alone can't provide and USC really doesn't have that. Further, housing is pretty cheap at UCI after the first year. UCI actually has apartments for rent and not those odd dorm things that USC has. In general, UCI seems to be on the way up (definite growth phase)...and USC is on the way down, but of course USC has further to fall. BTW, UCI's extremely impressive board scores, at least on Step 1, I believe come from the time off they give students to prepare. Also, their main medical center is in a very poor and diverse neighborhood. No, it's not LA County, but it does serve as the County hospital for Orange County. I think UCI has better research. It did get an MSTP grant some time back...and USC is still reaching for that.

 

[Jalby]

USC doesn't have dorms. They do have apartments for residents, but no housing for students.
As for USC being on the way down, I don't know where that came from. USC has a 10 year goal to raise their ranking and they are doing that by building a lot more buildings for research. In just the past year it jumped from a 43 ranking to a 36. I wouldn't call that going down, considering I never remember them being below a 40.

 

[Nuclearrabbit]

It really depends on what you are looking for. Even though the clinical training is incomparable between UCI and USC, your basic science education and reputation will be comparable or better at UCI, regardless of U.S. News rankings.

The clinical training is always lauded at USC because of how much responsibility you get and the number of cases you will see, but this can be really intense for some people,-i've heard that some students are overwhelmed and feel like they've been immersed in a real-life "apocolypse now" My boss did her residency there, so i heard from close sources.

UCI will be making a new hospital, but i am not sure if it will be constructed by the time you will be in your clinical years. One thing i don't like about UCI is the fact that the medical center (and alot of the faculty), is far away from the undergraduate campus (and medical school). I'm not sure how it is for USC.

Another thing that you may consider is the tremendous alumni power that USC wields. USC's alumni in all fields(business, law, music..etc.) are truly dominating. I've heard of a private hospital in south county that was 90% USC alumni, they recruited only from USC. Talk about white-collar mafia.

Money should be a consideration.
If you still aren't sure, try taking a second look at both schools and talk to some students.
if you still can't decide, then flip a coin.

Consider yourself lucky either way, you are in california! (personally i'm ready to get the heck out of here)

haha

 

[caligal]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I'm currently trying to decide between the two schools. I know tuition will play a large role in influencing my decision, but I wanted to see what other people felt UCI had to offer besides the money factor. After going to both school's second look receptions, I felt as though UCI was a better fit for me, and I was really impressed by how happy and relaxed the students are. I guess my only concern is UCI's reputation. I'm not planning on going into primary care so I just wanted to know for sure whether going to UCI would limit my opportunities in the future. Also, I am a little concerned about how good the clinical training is at UCI since the medical center is so far away. Overall though, I think I would be very happy at UCI, and I think their curriculum fits my style of learning more. I'm not a big fan of PBL. Anyways, I just wanted to thank everyone for their comments and keep them coming! I'd like to hear more about what other people think.

 

[Mr.D]

Just to let some of you guys know, I bunch of different people at UCI (including my interviewer)have told me that part of the reason why UCI meds do so well on the boards is because UCI has access to some old USMLE's that only certain medical schools across the country have. Basically from day one they're being taught how to ace the boards and use some of the old section exams as finals. Of course there's more to their curriculum and UCI than this, but a major emphasis is definitely placed on scoring high on the boards. 😀

 

[jmejia1]

USC on the way down? Before UCLA's recent 200 million dollar donation, USC had recieved the biggest grant ever for med schools, with $110 million.

by the way, our tour guide at USC choose USC over UCI. there's been alot of negative publicity for UCI, plus it's pretty Unknown outside California.

 

[Doctor Wyldstyle]

Just a little note on PBL...most schools are not pure PBL schools. The majority of medical schools are for the most part hybrid PBL and traditional lecture intended to capture the best of both worlds. Anyways, I believe UCI is hybrid as well.

A little story...for me to tell. Before I interviewed with UCI med, a friend of mine was a first year there already. Anyways, he had gone to USC undergrad on scholarship. He interviewed at USC med and had a horrible experience. It was so bad, he complained and got another interview. By this time, he was already accepted at UCI and loved it. With USC, he was accepted with a grip of scholarships again ironically so it was just as cheap! Anyways, his heart was at UCI so he went there even though USC was were he originally wanted to go.

Just a story...good luck! Both schools are great!

 

[altaskier]

USC has got the best clinical experience offered at a medical school, hands down!

 

[UC-Lover]

I would undoubtedly choose UCI. It's my own personal preference though. I don't like living in big cities in general.

 

[Hero]

For me, not considering tuition (which would be a huge factor), it would be to decide great clinical training vs. great location. What is yours?

 

[slj]

caligal, you've probably already done this, but i'd look at the direction/integrity of specific departments at UCI (and USC, too) for the areas you are interested in going into. when i interviewed at ucsd, my interviewer told me that the neurosurgery dept at UCI is totally falling apart, and if i thought i might want to go into that i should definately choose another school. on the other hand, many uci grads match in neurology, for example, so it's not the case hands down that if you want to go into a competitive, non-primary care field uci is not the place for you...just some more thoughts 🙂

 

[Nuclearrabbit]

caligal,

uci will not limit your opportunity to match and specialize in a field besides primary care. there is more weight on the board score, class rank, and extracurricular activities (primarily research and volunteer work) than which institution you come from. i know plenty of people who've matched into premier residency programs from "shiet" schools. The reality is that nearly every medical school in the u.s. will give you a solid education. Go where you will be happy, and kick ass on the boards if you want to do a competitive match. 😛

 

[McEntrye]

Caligal,

I wonder if we met at the revisit?

I was thinking very similiar things to you both before and after my UCI visit.

Before i revisited, i was focused upon what i didn't like about UCI. But during that day, I rememebered the good feeling I had during my interview. Everyone is just so happy to be there!

Its not crazy and crowded and smoggy like LA...

You can still match wherever you want (that 4th year whom Dr. Petersen couldn't pronounce his name (Shrivastava) he matched at hopkins for OB/GYN but decided to go to UCI instead...

HOUSING!!! You can live in amazing palo verde for 450 dollars a month and WALK! to school, or ride your bike.

And when you want partying or culture you can drive for 15 minutes and get whatever you want. In LA you drive for 30 minutes and get about a mile down the jammed freeway.

Med school is not easy, and its fairly long, so go to a) the cheapest you can b)a good place for you future career and c)the place you want to live.
Based upon those criteria, you will find the best place for yourself.

Good luck next year wherever you go! I will be living in Palo Verde (i got housing already!)

 

[otter]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by WatchaMaCallit:
•on the other hand, I heard in irvine all we see is white pple...not that there is anything wrong with old white pple 😀 •••••Are you sure about this? I've never been inside UCI's hospital, but I know the area well. The UCI hospital's in Orange/Garden Grove area (it's not in Irvine), which is one of the most ethnically diverse areas of Orange County.

 

[none]

UCI does have some great on campus housing.

 

[Aria111]

McEntrye- I sent you a PM! :wink:

 

[BlackPuma]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by none:
•UCI does have some great on campus housing.•••••dont u have to wait 2 years before u get it?

 

[Doctor Wyldstyle]

more like 1. i applied last year...and got a letter in march that my spot on wait list has come up.

problem is that im already at another med school. lol <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

•••quote:•••Originally posted by WatchaMaCallit:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by none:
•UCI does have some great on campus housing.•••••dont u have to wait 2 years before u get it?•••••

 

[none]

12-15 months, unless you do the pre-entry program, then it's immediate.